Ilma Jean Bare

     Ilma Jean Bare was born on May 1, 1926, in Ithaca, Michigan to Mabel (Rudd) Gladstone and John Edward Gladstone. She married Clarence Edward Bare on January 19, 1946, in Ithaca, Michigan and they were married for 76 years before his passing in May of 2022. She is survived by daughters Milana (Michael) Space and Carol Vernon of Ithaca, seven grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren, and niece Dare (Harter) Lucy of Midland, Texas.
     She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, daughter and son-in-law Kathleen (Arthur) Burch, son-in-law Patrick Vernon, sisters: Mildred Ginther and Freda (Roy) Harter, brothers Clifford and James Gladstone, in-laws: Willis and Betty (Bogart) Bare, Earl and Glendora (Putnam) Bare, and Beatrice and Ernest Rozen.
     Ilma Jean was born and raised in Gratiot County and attended school in Ithaca, but she graduated from Clare High School after spending the summer with her sister Freda. She worked at a local grocery store and the telephone company in Ithaca for a time.
     She was a wonderful cook, housekeeper and caregiver for the family. She and Clarence loved having all the holiday meals at their house and enjoyed all the food they themselves prepared and served, much of it from the gardening, canning and freezing they did together for many years. The more the family grew, the happier they were to have them all together.
     Ilma Jean loved to antique with her daughter, Kathy, and made many trips to the Candlewick Conventions and antique stores all over Michigan. She bowled for many years in Ithaca, and enjoyed traveling to national parks, visiting sisters in California and Texas and a cruise/land trip in Alaska. She enjoyed playing cards over the years and belonged to a few card clubs, from Bridge to Pedro, Euchre to Solitaire, she loved them all. She enjoyed many years of dinners, cards, games and socializing at the Senior Activity Building in Ithaca. She was part of a group of ladies who knitted many hats and mittens for the local school children. She was an excellent seamstress and made her own curtains, clothes for herself and daughters and could mend anything. She refinished furniture, learned to cane chairs, needlepoint and knitted many afghan blankets. Late in life she enjoyed reading and doing word search puzzle books.
     She was devoted to her family and cherished the holiday and birthday celebrations with all the family present. A special thank you the Care Team Hospice and Rosewood Adult Foster Care staff in Ithaca for their love and care.
     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. with Jo Jones officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Ithaca Cemetery, Ithaca, MI.
      Memorial contributions may be made to the Senior Activity Building, 1011 E. North Street, Ithaca, MI 48847. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, Michigan.